Since we posted The Contest, So Far…, until this past Thursday at midnight, we received 19 additional photos. Some were quite good, some mediocre. None of these photos were shot by professionals, none spent hours food styling and we certainly didn’t aexpect such, the three top ones are quite good. Before we show you the winning picture and the two runners up, here is one photo that I wish could have been at least a runner up. The colors are beautiful, it is very sharp but the lighting is uneven, distracting and there is no definite overall pattern…

While the specific angle of the picture avoided harsh shadows, it was obviously shot with flash as opposed to available or natural light. As a result there is some glare which greatly detracts from the photo. It could have been a very good shot… It was taken by a teenager in Providence, RI. We truly thank you for your efforts and interest!

The tablecloth picks up the colors of the pastrami, directing the eye to the food itself. What could have been a very distracting item on the photo actually gives it a warm tone and makes the pastrami burgers look mouthwatering. The flower like pattern of the pickle slices effectively breaks up the almost monochromatic tones of the rest of the photo as it adds interest. Well done!

This particular recipe, by itself, has no interesting colors, in fact it would be boring. The photographer compensated for this shortcoming by putting it in a red glass bowl, contrasting it against a deep blue multi-tone background, and a tablecloth that complements the colors of the food. Putting the photo at a roguish angle makes it truly interesting. Definitely a winner. Mrs. Zivah A. a copy of Susie Fishbein’s latest cookbook, Kosher By Design: Teens And 20 Somethings, will arrive soon at your doorsteps in Lakewood.

We are very grateful to every single one of the 33 people who submitted, thank you for your interest!!!